GREENVILLE, NC January 28, 2014 – The East Carolina University Department of Athletics, under the leadership of Jeff Compher, has unveiled an UNDAUNTED Strategic Plan, which will serve as a road map that will guide decision-making and operational efforts over a three-to-five year period.

“Thank you to the many people who contributed to this plan,” said Compher, who will complete his first full year as ECU’s athletics director on April 30. “Their work will be used as a living document to guide us during our transition into the American Athletic Conference, while we stay focused on our primary goal of educating our student-athletes and serving as a point of pride for our University, community and passionate fan base.”

The primary aim during the detailed planning process, which was initiated in September of 2012, was to create a strategy to establish goals and priorities for ECU Athletics that enable efficient and effective management consistent with its core values and understanding of the department’s future mission and vision. While attainable and measurable goals are outlined to guide the department through the 2018-19 academic year, the intent of the plan is to remain fluid and be in a position to adapt as conditions warrant.

The release of the inclusive plan also affords ownership across the university and local community. Over 80 individuals representing athletics staff and coaches, student-athletes, university administration and faculty, ECU Student Government, Pitt/Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Pirate Club and Board of Trustees participated in its compilation.

Seven strategic priority areas were identified – Academics; Student-Athlete Well-Being; Competitive Excellence; Increase of Brand Awareness & Institutional Reputation; Integrity, Accountability and Compliance; Resources and Fiscal Management; Operations and Organizational Management. Committees were established for each core evaluative area and were comprised of both internal and external constituents.

Key concepts of the mission, vision and core value statements developed at the beginning of the process were condensed into two succinct, defining and indigenous phrases to not only provide guiding principles for all Pirates, but help articulate the East Carolina story in many different settings:

THE PIRATE CREED
We Are UNDAUNTED…
– In our PASSION
– In our SERVICE
– In building LEADERS
– In winning CHAMPIONSHIPSWe Are The Pirates of ECU

The goals and strategies identified in East Carolina’s UNDAUNTED plan will be subjected to regular assessment and evaluation to ensure progress. Collaborative working relationships will be an expected result of the process and all respective initiatives and directives will solely be based on meeting the department’s overall objectives.

Strategies and timelines for achieving goals outlined in the plan are clear, but various implementation details still in the development process will follow in a manner that respects fiscal responsibility and congruency for all divisions responsible for the realization of each goal.

Of the strategic priorities, an updated brand identity initiative will be recognized immediately with the inclusion of ECU’s revised primary mark on the release of the UNDAUNTED document. Remaining logotypes, name, word marks and fonts, along with a style guide, will be unveiled Wednesday in association with the department’s branding announcement.